Kenya has declared the opposition Nasa's National Resistance Movement (NRM) an organised criminal group after its officials sworn-in Raila Odinga in a mock inauguration Tuesday.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, in making the declaration, cited Prevention of Organised Crimes Act 2010.
“In exercise of the powers conferred by section 22 of the Act, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Interior and Co-ordination of National Government declares National Resistance Movement (NRM) to be organised criminal group for the purposes of the Act,” read a gazette notice dated January 30.
NRM now joins a list that also includes terrorist groups like Al Shabaab and outlawed brutal tribal gang Mungiki.
NRM says it agitates, through non-violent resistance, for electoral reforms and boycott of products and services provided by companies deemed to be pro-government.
By gazetting, the public is warned against getting involved in activities of the proscribed groups, failure to which harsh penalties of up to Ksh1 million (about $10,000) are imposed including life imprisonment for those who do.
Previous security ministers have on occasions proscribed various groups.
